I was there and became a Deadhead ten minutes into the show when they played Here Comes Sunshine, which was on the radio from the then-current Wake of the Flood album. Playing in the Band sandwich is superlative. Wowza!

I guess you could say I worship this shit, because as I was listening to it yesterday, I kept saying, "Holy Crap!"

Not even the fire marshal
was going to slow this one down.

the whole show is pumpin, but peep the Playin sandwich.

This dead show is very special to me, and has a special place in my heart, and NO, I wasn't there.

No dead show gives me chills more than this one, and the date 11-17-73 will always be lasered into my brain. There's not a single part of this show not worth listening to, nor is there a part of the show that doesn't nearly take my breath away.

This show starts out with one of the most beautiful opening three songs I know in a dead concert, and they set the tone for this masterpiece right away. This is the best HCS i've ever heard, everything about it is simply AMAZING. Oh why, grateful dead, why didn't you play this track more. Going into a stellar version of looks like rain right after it, you know right away that this show is going to be a killer. For me, however my fav part of this show is the playin sandwich.... every layer is awesome and the morning dew is one of the only versions of the song I thoroughly enjoy. But this UJB is the best i've ever heard the dead play it.

I knew I liked this show but the entire thing changed when I heard the opening chords to sugar mag... this version was unlike any other version i've heard before.... Donna is SPECTACULAR IN IT!!! The sunshine daydream is just toooo much.... BEST SUGAR MAG EVER!!!

Seriously, believe the hype.... this show is special. You can't go wrong anywhere. Stay trippy.

Can we fix this anyway

The over analyzing/ranking, "7th best version, not as good as the 7th" is laughable! Can't we just say its different, describe the experience, give an opinion not lay it down like its fact. It was the difference night to night , year to year that kept these guys together and so enjoyable to listen too. I love this show, I give the show & the year 5 stars(IMO)!

Listened to this for the first time in a long time tonight, and I was reminded in spades why I followed these guys around when I was a kid. The transition from China Cat---> Rider had me feeling that old feeling when Jerry grabbed my spinal cord and pumped a million volts through it.

Drama, drugs, and death aside, I still appreciate these guys for what they did for me. What a ride.

the playin sandwich speaks for itself
really crisp recording, I love it
I can hear a splice around 5:39 in UJB though, but hey, it doesn't even matter (at least not to me). this show is a true gem, and you shouldn't let a flaw in the recording ruin the magic for you

peace

Edit: forgot to mention that this is by far one of the best HCS's I have ever heard

Sometimes I feel like I need a Dona filter, but this isn't one of those times. I really think she adds a lot here. In fact that's one of my metrics for how a good a show is. If Dona doesn't stick out then the band (and her) are on.

In this show she really kicks Bob's wailing up a notch on the final SM.

This is an awesome show. Thanks for all the stories from the folks that were there.

Who wants a Donna filter, to me he voice just doesn't belong in there.
And yes I saw the dead with her, 2 shows and with out.
Keith did a bang up job in China going into I know you rider.

That's right. I'm jealous of all you folks that can't hear Donna. How could anyone miss her screeching? Does your setup have a "Donna filter", and if so, where can I get one? lmao...

This performance merits five stars IN SPITE of her presence. Enjoy, folks!

-q

% stars just for the Playin'>Uncle>Dew>Uncle>Playin' mini masterpiece. Whoosh! Vroom!

First off let me say...Love the "Archive"!!!!!!!!! There are many good shows to be heard (or experienced?)here but this one is a real gem! One complaint though, the blank spaces between songs REALLY need to go. It kind of defeats the purpose of the >...you know? -4 stars is due to blank spaces... anyway, NEVER STOP ROCKIN'

Dave's Picks Vol. 5 ships this Friday, can't wait to hear this show again!!

Very good show overall - not quite scaling the boogaloo peaks of 11/14 or the overall psychedelic tapestry of 11/11, but a fine show - looks like Dave will be releasing this one next year - good choice.

Set 1 - LOTS of flubbed lyrics in this show overall - sometimes that can affect things, sometimes not - we start rockily but get into a fine groove with Here Comes Sunshine. China Cat > Rider probably takes the accolades in the first set, which isn't altogether amazing, but still fun to listen to.

Set 2 - The real fireworks, of course, come from the Playin' suite - they had done this one before equally well (see 11/10) and here Jer has trouble with some of the Morning Dew lyrics - but this is an example where Jer's 'take' on the lyrics actually improves the song - I see the final assessment of this two-person apocalyptic ballad as a kind of checklist of the "reasons why you can't go home again". Jerry stumbles on the first one and wisely (or inadvertently?) keeps going through one verse summation at a time, giving it a finalization that is actually missing in the "original" version - sometimes happy accidents do occur!

While one might think the real guitar work comes before UJB in this suite, they actually air out the Main Ten for over ten minutes post-UJB - boy, do they ever take their sweet time wrapping up the jam (beware of Donna!)

Can't we just listen to this wonderful music without all the B.S. critique? All the "Where's Donna" comments, or the "tips" on what could have or should have been done better... it sickens me.

Classic Grateful Dead. Great sound A+.

Tickets required a night playing cards in line and a student body card. The crowd was electric, everybody on their feet 1/2 way through the opener. Although familiar with the sound, for most it was their first time seeing the Dead live. Interplay between band and crowd was magic... Jerry and Phil driving the beat meeting center stage on each chorus, the crowd roaring on cue... A merging of song and dance honed to joyful perfection.

BEST Here Comes Sunshine? Perhaps. Not a lot of Keith in the mix unfortunately, but the guitars are amazing. It illuminates the brilliance of Bobby without being Bobcentric.

at about 9:05 into the second Playin'!!!

Again, just a stellar show folks. It can't be said enough about the interplay during this show.
rk

Sorry folkhippie, but judging from the evidence (her nice harmonizing on Here Comes Sunshine, her irritating wailing on Playin' In The Band), Donna Godchaux is definitely NOT off having a baby. Low in the mix, yeah, but she's quite obviously onstage. Great show, by the way!

Donna Jean is not lost in the mix, she was taking time off due to pregnancy. She gave birth to her and Keith's son Zion.

One of the best shows of '73! Beautiful Here Come Sun Shine!

...you turned me on to an absolutely incredible show! had it for a while now, but i thought i'd get around to finally rating it. man, what's been said about this PITB>UJB>AM DEW>UJB>PITB is all true...this is SERIOUSLY the dead at their very best. jerry and phil play off each other incredibly during the first PITB, the uncle is perfect, dew is amazing moving back into uncle smooth as can be like butter, and the 2nd PITB has some very, very unique stuff going on. this whole jam does, really.

its not just this jam that everyone raves about that's great tho - i just love everything about this show. my TOP 3 favorite HCS, GREAT versions of EYES, CHINA>RIDER, BROWN EYED WOMEN, DEAL, RAMBLE ON ROSE the list goes on.

you know what? forget my review, go to the bottom and read what the good Dr. has to say, he is much more articulate that me...and find a way to get(or at least listen to) what may be the best show of 1973!

Donna is definitely toned down for this one. Although I like her a lot, this makes for an interesting show, especially on Around and Around.

Beautiful recording of a beautiful show. I have to thank the Grateful Dead Listening Guide for the link:

http://deadlistening.blogspot.com/2008/12/1973-november-17-pauley-pavilion.html

hernan

Show is outstanding, especially the Playin' Sandwich!

I've listened to a good number of shows from '73, but not all and for what its worth this is my favorite. This show was missing from the archive for a while and I'm glad to see its back. You can't go wrong with this one, everything is excellent but the Playing>UJB>Morning Dew>UJB>Playing is one of the most jaw dropping bits of music I've heard from Jerry and the guys from any year.

Pretty much a peak show in a peak year for the band. No complaints...sounds great. I guess the worst part is how much I miss them..........

'73 just gets better and better! This show is just chock full of highlights. As mentioned earlier the Playin>UJB>Dew>UJB>Playin and the Eyes are out of this world as is pretty much the entire 1st set with the Sunshine as a particular standout.
The sound rocks, the band rocks...easliy 5 stars.
Peace ;)

I've had a SBD cassette of this show since '84. No doubt, its my favorite but its quite used. When I recently found out about this archive, I knew exactly what to look for; this show!

a personal favorite of mine. Would be in my top 20 all time. Very good and the UJB>Playin>Mdew sandwich is much more than a gimmick. It works. For this era, I'm a big 74 guy but this show really jumps out at me.

hello. i have a SBD of this show with the following changes: pitch correction, hiss reduction, EQ boost, clipping removed, and i am uploading it soon. hope this makes everyone happy.
-Ben

I've been doing a tour of the Dead, starting 1965, listening to a few shows from every year, noting the transitions and changes in sound. Some great shows in every era. Yet, I've been stuck in late 1973, listening to one after another, I can't move on to '74 quite yet--late '73 was a rich time for the band. Different set lists than '77, but comparing well.

This is another great late '73 show. What everyone else said here is right on. But don't overlook a great first set, starting with Jerry on fire on Me and My Uncle, one of the best Here Comes Sunshine's (a great song), and a soulful Bob in Looks Like Rain. Rain after Sunshine, it works, and keeps on going.

Check it out.

I've been doing a tour of the Dead, starting 1965, listening to a few shows from every year, noting the transitions and changes in sound. Some great shows in every era. Yet, I've been stuck in late 1973, listening to one after another, I can't move on to '74 quite yet--late '73 was a rich time for the band. Different set lists than '77, but comparing well.

This is another great late '73 show. What everyone else said here is right on. But don't overlook a great first set, starting with Jerry on fire on Me and My Uncle, one of the best Here Comes Sunshine's (a great song), and a soulful Bob in Looks Like Rain. Rain after Sunshine, it works, and keeps on going.

Check it out.

WOW! This show is now in my top 5 favorite dead shows ever! It is so solid...all the way through! HCS really gets the groove flowing...the vibe grows as the night goes on. A huge thank you to Jonathan for this source! Sound quality is 5 stars and so is the energy and playing! Now quit reading this and download the show for pure sonic pleasure.

Magnificent 2nd set with fluid transitions.

Great setlist = the best quality of this show...has all the songs you look for during this period except for maybe a dark star combo. Basically - stellar brown eyed women, china cat, eyes of the world, MORNING DEW really had its peaks along with the whole playin - uncle john's chunk. Sound quality excellent for this time.

A nice set, sound is awesome. The second-set is tasty.
November, December 1973 was a great time for live Dead...

I don't give 5 stars lightly...

Sound = 4.5 stars (.5 taken off for slight hiss...easily remedied and does not take away from the sound to tun down the high frequency treble), performance = 4.5 stars (just for missed lyrics on the Dew) = 4.5 stars overall.

Highlights are BE women from set I, and the seamless trasition from Morning Dew > UJB. This is a must download from 73.

and keeps trucking all the way through i did not check the songs before i played this and was blown away by the second set - parts of the first set though hot are not really over the top for this period however second set comes out swinging and the playin>uncle johns>dew and then back into it is unbelievable!! i was ok with that and thought it was over with stella blue and then came a really beautiful eyes - this is a great show. if you listen closely you can hear when the others try to bail and jerry just keeps jamming early in the second set - he showed up to play this night.

I have to agree with mgags and The Good Dr... I am listening to the Playin right now and this is some good shit. Jerry begins the jam in a meandering way... much different... not nearly as aggressive as at Veneta and some of the Berkeley Community shows before that. But he meanders with purpose setting us all up for the kill... and suddenly you find yourself in the presence of the Dead at the full-tilt-boogie of their powers. The jam just goes... Jerry leading... Phil following/leading or adding spice/aggression underneath... Bobby slashing in the background... around it all... Kreutzman following Jerry on his high hat... sensing Jerry's intensity perfectly...maybe, leading Jerry's intensity at times. They are definately playing off of each other...then it begins to appear to melt down... but it never becomes a full meltdown... and out of the blue... as simple as that... a perfect Uncle John's Band. Jerry gently shreds the solo in Uncle Johns. Next, Phil blows BOMBS in Morning Dew... how can such a gentle, beautiful song become the DEEP AND HEAVY jam it becomes and go right back down again like that? OMG... and back up again... and RIGHT BACK into the Uncle Johns. The Uncle John's Reprise is short but aggressively played and to the point... and out of nowhere back into a spacy (but with form) Playin Reprise. This band is too hot and original for words. You just gotta hear this. I believe this is my favorite version, out of 4 beautiful renditions, of the Playin>Uncle John's>AM Dew sandwich. Great sound quality, to boot. Get it. Your life is not complete without this show. There is no one who cannot like this. Repeat last two lines.

I had an incredible experience listening to this show in my bedroom. Can you imagine actually being a lucky-ass UCLA student and seeing the Dead play this show? I bet that more than a few first-timers at this show became Deadheads. PITB>UJD>Dew>UJB>PITB and Eyes>Sugar Mag? Has the band played anything like that before or since? Need any more be said?!?!?!

There are many people who would consider this "sandwich" segment of the show to be the epitome of Dead 1973........I agree! This is one of the best Playin in the Band's and as another reviewer mentioned, UJB is flawless. The post-Dew reprises are impressive as well. Oh yeah, they also pull out a wicked Eyes.
Get this show!

awesome playin. good show, good sound. morning dew comes out of uncle john's and then goes back into it.

I have been creating my own "United States '73" CD from the best songs of the year (like the Europe '72 concept); and the Playing=>Uncle John's Band=>Morning Dew => Playing conncection is going on it!

If you haven't heard this show, get it! So many times the band couldn't quite pull of the sweet harmonies on Uncle John's Band - but this show sounds like they were in the studio.

Some of the best singing the band ever did is in this segment. The playing is very crisp and nice. All around great.

This show taunted me from the pages of DeadBase for years. Look at that Setlist! I couldn't get my hands on a good copy. Well, here it is!! No band today can play this creatively and consistently for such a long performance. The sound is crisp and clean. This is as good as concerts get. Seriously.

After choosing 11/21/73 as one of my top shows, I was relunctant to pick yet another November show. But this Nov 73 run was something else indeed. Get every one - you won't be sorry. I first heard this show streaming online at 40K. Crappy quality, but I could hear the playing was extraordinary. I was thrilled to finally get this in SHN. The energy and musicianship are consistent and strong throughout, particularly HC Sunshine and China>Rider. But the big enchillada is the featured jam segue that they only played 4 times to my knowledge in the 70's. I'm talking about the Playin>UJ Band>Morning Dew>UJ Band>Playin "sandwich". This is the Dead at their absolute best. At times, you could swear it's Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew" or Weather Report. This show will take you there and bring you home again. And just when you can't possibly take any more, they pull out Eyes of the World! A stellar show in an outstanding year.
Dr. Flashback :-)